Refurbishment of my Maserati Mexico
Discussion
Hi Paul...
Just getting caught up here... When you say noisy in first, do you mean when shifting into second, or just driving in first?
Mine always is a little tough going from first to second especially when cold. After the transmission is warmed up, she is
much better. What kind of fluid are you using in the tranny?
Since mine (074) is 4.2L, I am pretty sure the transmission is the ZF S5-20 model. I now have a spare one of these along with
a spare 4.2L engine. What transmission did they use in the 4.7L versions of the Mexico? Was it the S5-325? I always wondered
about that..
Mike
Just getting caught up here... When you say noisy in first, do you mean when shifting into second, or just driving in first?
Mine always is a little tough going from first to second especially when cold. After the transmission is warmed up, she is
much better. What kind of fluid are you using in the tranny?
Since mine (074) is 4.2L, I am pretty sure the transmission is the ZF S5-20 model. I now have a spare one of these along with
a spare 4.2L engine. What transmission did they use in the 4.7L versions of the Mexico? Was it the S5-325? I always wondered
about that..
Mike
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/4qGzvJBa.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/HUZQWzSD" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/HUZQWzSD.jpg)
Mexico 4.2L -> ZF S5-20
Mexico 4.7L-> ZF S5-325/27
The S5-20 from the Mexico is a modified version of the Mercedes Benz SL "Pagoda" gearbox in order to accept more torque. Some parts are shared between these two gearbox and ZF now can supply new parts. Today, you can restore a ZF S5-20 but of course when you talk about ZF, it's very expensive !
https://www.zf.com/corporate/en_de/products/produc...
Mexico 4.7L-> ZF S5-325/27
The S5-20 from the Mexico is a modified version of the Mercedes Benz SL "Pagoda" gearbox in order to accept more torque. Some parts are shared between these two gearbox and ZF now can supply new parts. Today, you can restore a ZF S5-20 but of course when you talk about ZF, it's very expensive !
https://www.zf.com/corporate/en_de/products/produc...
Edited by d.wilde on Friday 15th January 18:31
Mexico074 said:
Hi Paul...
Just getting caught up here... When you say noisy in first, do you mean when shifting into second, or just driving in first?
Mine always is a little tough going from first to second especially when cold. After the transmission is warmed up, she is
much better. What kind of fluid are you using in the tranny?
Since mine (074) is 4.2L, I am pretty sure the transmission is the ZF S5-20 model. I now have a spare one of these along with
a spare 4.2L engine. What transmission did they use in the 4.7L versions of the Mexico? Was it the S5-325? I always wondered
about that..
Mike
Evening MikeJust getting caught up here... When you say noisy in first, do you mean when shifting into second, or just driving in first?
Mine always is a little tough going from first to second especially when cold. After the transmission is warmed up, she is
much better. What kind of fluid are you using in the tranny?
Since mine (074) is 4.2L, I am pretty sure the transmission is the ZF S5-20 model. I now have a spare one of these along with
a spare 4.2L engine. What transmission did they use in the 4.7L versions of the Mexico? Was it the S5-325? I always wondered
about that..
Mike
Mine is the S5-20 model and the shift is beautifully smooth, even when cold it seems to snick around very easily so I may need a different fluid. Any recommendation? The gearbox is whisper quiet in all gears except first, almost like it's got a straight-cut first gear, once it's shifted into second and beyond, it's lovely.
Hello Paul...
Sorry for the delay, but have been busy getting the QP1 ready for departure. I recently sold the car to someone in Florida who also has
a QP1, which he is restoring. He didn't need the engine and transmission, which is why I now have a spare 4.2 engine and S5-20 transmission.
He also didn't need the interior, so I also have a pretty good interior for a QP1. Too bad none of the interior is really usable on the Mexico!
Besides that, I have been working on the Ghibli. If your interested, you can find my thread in the Maserati section of Ferrarichat.com.
Your question on Transmission fluids is a good one. I did some checking and cannot find what is actually in mine. But I do have one more
place to look. I also checked out the Redline Oil website. I have heard very good things about their products, but cannot recommend one
for the S5-20 transmission at this time. Perhaps someone else will chime in here with some recommendations. I will also keep looking!
When you restored your car, what fluid did you put in the transmission? Also, not to get into a big oil discussion, but what engine
oil are you using?
Take care and hope to hear from you soon!
Mike
Sorry for the delay, but have been busy getting the QP1 ready for departure. I recently sold the car to someone in Florida who also has
a QP1, which he is restoring. He didn't need the engine and transmission, which is why I now have a spare 4.2 engine and S5-20 transmission.
He also didn't need the interior, so I also have a pretty good interior for a QP1. Too bad none of the interior is really usable on the Mexico!
Besides that, I have been working on the Ghibli. If your interested, you can find my thread in the Maserati section of Ferrarichat.com.
Your question on Transmission fluids is a good one. I did some checking and cannot find what is actually in mine. But I do have one more
place to look. I also checked out the Redline Oil website. I have heard very good things about their products, but cannot recommend one
for the S5-20 transmission at this time. Perhaps someone else will chime in here with some recommendations. I will also keep looking!
When you restored your car, what fluid did you put in the transmission? Also, not to get into a big oil discussion, but what engine
oil are you using?
Take care and hope to hear from you soon!
Mike
Hello again Paul...
Was searching through some stuff and came across some pictures I thought you might enjoy. The last picture doesn't show the Mexico
at its best, but that's because of angles and such. It's also not the best picture of my bigger garage, but it gives you an idea of
where I spend many of my non-working hours!
Mike
Was searching through some stuff and came across some pictures I thought you might enjoy. The last picture doesn't show the Mexico
at its best, but that's because of angles and such. It's also not the best picture of my bigger garage, but it gives you an idea of
where I spend many of my non-working hours!
Mike
Mexico074 said:
Hello Paul...
When you restored your car, what fluid did you put in the transmission? Also, not to get into a big oil discussion, but what engine
oil are you using?
Take care and hope to hear from you soon!
Mike
Evening MikeWhen you restored your car, what fluid did you put in the transmission? Also, not to get into a big oil discussion, but what engine
oil are you using?
Take care and hope to hear from you soon!
Mike
Your Mexico is looking very classy there, nice Fiat Spider too.
As for the oils, I'm using Castrol Classic XL 20W-50 multigrade engine oil and and Millers Hypoid 80w-90 GL5 Gear Oil for both the gearbox and the diff. These were the recommended grades from Opie Oils after I'd sent them the original lubricant schedule from the manual, apparently the closest modern grades to the original spec.
I'll be doing an oil change over the next few weeks including the gearbox so if there are better options, let me know.
How do they compare to the oils you're using?
Cheers
Paul
Looking at the stunning examples in this thread a thought just occurred to me.... if Michelotti had gone down a slightly different path with his ideas for the Triumph Stag it could easily have looked like a British version of the Mexico. (I think he had a hand in Triumph's Italia in the '60s, which looks like a smaller version of the Sebring).
Michelotti has stopped his collaboration with Vignale before the Mexico. The designer was Virginio Vairo (designer chief at Vignale). He is still alive somewhere in Italy.
But, you're right, it's clearly Michelloti inspired. Same problem with Giugiaro / Gandini about the Miura.
But, you're right, it's clearly Michelloti inspired. Same problem with Giugiaro / Gandini about the Miura.
Edited by d.wilde on Sunday 7th February 15:30
d.wilde said:
Michelotti has stopped his collaboration with Vignale before the Mexico. The designer was Virginio Vairo (designer chief at Vignale). He is still alive somewhere in Italy.
But, you're right, it's clearly Michelloti inspired. Same problem with Giugiaro / Gandini about the Miura.
Ah thanks, I didn't know that about the Mexico. Must read Martin Buckley's Maser book again..!But, you're right, it's clearly Michelloti inspired. Same problem with Giugiaro / Gandini about the Miura.
Edited by d.wilde on Sunday 7th February 15:30
I just found this forum. I am very impressed with the extent of the work being accomplished by the owners.
Since last summer I have been in the process of restoring a recently acquired Mexico (that last ran in 1992) and need some advice. So far, I have taken the car almost completely apart, removed all of the underseal from the entire car, rebuilt the brakes, steering, and suspension (almost), put new seals in the rear axle, had the fuel tanks boiled out and sealed, the radiator re-cored, etc.. I also repaired quite a lot of the rust with only the lower doors left to complete.
But I have not been able to remove one of the lower A-arm shafts to replace the bushings (one came out and is done). I also need to remove the wood fascia on the instrument panel for refinishing, only I do not know how it is held on. Can someone advise me on how to accomplish these tasks?
Since last summer I have been in the process of restoring a recently acquired Mexico (that last ran in 1992) and need some advice. So far, I have taken the car almost completely apart, removed all of the underseal from the entire car, rebuilt the brakes, steering, and suspension (almost), put new seals in the rear axle, had the fuel tanks boiled out and sealed, the radiator re-cored, etc.. I also repaired quite a lot of the rust with only the lower doors left to complete.
But I have not been able to remove one of the lower A-arm shafts to replace the bushings (one came out and is done). I also need to remove the wood fascia on the instrument panel for refinishing, only I do not know how it is held on. Can someone advise me on how to accomplish these tasks?
morris traveler said:
I just found this forum. I am very impressed with the extent of the work being accomplished by the owners.
Since last summer I have been in the process of restoring a recently acquired Mexico (that last ran in 1992) and need some advice. So far, I have taken the car almost completely apart, removed all of the underseal from the entire car, rebuilt the brakes, steering, and suspension (almost), put new seals in the rear axle, had the fuel tanks boiled out and sealed, the radiator re-cored, etc.. I also repaired quite a lot of the rust with only the lower doors left to complete.
But I have not been able to remove one of the lower A-arm shafts to replace the bushings (one came out and is done). I also need to remove the wood fascia on the instrument panel for refinishing, only I do not know how it is held on. Can someone advise me on how to accomplish these tasks?
Sorry, I can't help on the dash removal although I would be interested in a guide on that, or indeed with the removal of the lower wishbone shaft other that the usual guidance with in 'heat'. Since last summer I have been in the process of restoring a recently acquired Mexico (that last ran in 1992) and need some advice. So far, I have taken the car almost completely apart, removed all of the underseal from the entire car, rebuilt the brakes, steering, and suspension (almost), put new seals in the rear axle, had the fuel tanks boiled out and sealed, the radiator re-cored, etc.. I also repaired quite a lot of the rust with only the lower doors left to complete.
But I have not been able to remove one of the lower A-arm shafts to replace the bushings (one came out and is done). I also need to remove the wood fascia on the instrument panel for refinishing, only I do not know how it is held on. Can someone advise me on how to accomplish these tasks?
However, you can't come on here with such a great sounding project without pictures. Also, is your car on the Mexico register, what's the chassis reference, 4.2 or 4.7, any history, what was it like when you got it .....
The car spent its life from new in Denver, Colorado, and because it is a dry climate, there is not too much rust. A friend bought it in 1992 and it ran, but it popped out of second gear (that is why it was sold). I drove it once and it had another serious problem: broken spokes in all the wheels to the point where the wheels were unstable. My friend did nothing with it and I finally was able to buy it from him at then end of 2014. I started working on the car last summer (but never drove it). By that time the brake and clutch hydraulics had failed, the fuel system was clogged with gelled gas, etc. I live in Wisconsin now and winters are long and cold, but I do have heat in the garage which lets me work on it some. But I prefer to do messy things like welding, painting, parts cleaning etc. with the garage opened up, so winters are not too productive. The chassis number is 396 and it is a 4.2. Total miles driven are 112,000. It is not on the register (as far as I know).
I did get the transmission fixed, the problem was a broken detent spring but the second gear assembly also got damaged and I was lucky enough to find good used parts on E-bay (in the Netherlands). I have refurbished most of the subassemblies except for the engine which is currently at a shop to be checked out and to have new valve sets and valves installed. In 1992 my friend and I put in new valve shims, but several of them were below the minimum factory thickness specifications so it is obvious that valve work was needed.
I have also been repairing rusted areas. I have attached pictures of the new drivers compartment floor I made. Fortunately, the other floors were perfect. I will get more pictures later.
I did get the transmission fixed, the problem was a broken detent spring but the second gear assembly also got damaged and I was lucky enough to find good used parts on E-bay (in the Netherlands). I have refurbished most of the subassemblies except for the engine which is currently at a shop to be checked out and to have new valve sets and valves installed. In 1992 my friend and I put in new valve shims, but several of them were below the minimum factory thickness specifications so it is obvious that valve work was needed.
I have also been repairing rusted areas. I have attached pictures of the new drivers compartment floor I made. Fortunately, the other floors were perfect. I will get more pictures later.
The car is already in the register with no recent update -> http://maserati.mexico.free.fr/registre/0396/0396....
Regards
Charles
www.mexico-registry.com
Regards
Charles
www.mexico-registry.com
One correction, I did not find the transmission gear through e-bay. In my experience word searches do not work well for unusual parts. What I do now is start with a general search and then go to images, Many times the images are there because the object is for sale. This is a much easier way to find stuff and I have used this approach on several projects.
The picture of the car shows its current state. The paint missing from the forward part of the front wing is because I used a torch to heat the underseal for removal and that blistered some of the outer paint which has to all eventually be removed anyway. The other spot without paint is a rust repair panel.
The picture of the car shows its current state. The paint missing from the forward part of the front wing is because I used a torch to heat the underseal for removal and that blistered some of the outer paint which has to all eventually be removed anyway. The other spot without paint is a rust repair panel.
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